Mariska Hargitay's Journey: From Trauma to Triumph

0:00On April 28th, Mariska Hargitai just drops in real talk on the Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter Podcast, live from Nava Valley. She's the queen of law and order special victims unit, holding down Olivia Benson for 27 seasons, the longest run for any character on Primetime TV. She also directed her debut doc, My Mom Jane, which snagged critics' choice and producers Guild Awards. There, she got deep on the car crash that killed her mom when she was just three. She opened up about not remembering the accident, but caring that trauma in her body, dealing with PTSD and anxiety as a kid. Therapy and making the film helped her heal big time, freeing up space in her nervous system. At age 34, the same as her mom and grandma when they passed, she nearly lost her own life, including layers to her story. Meanwhile, her growth mirrors Benson's from squadmate to boss and mom on screen. Fans lose it over her chemistry with Chris Maloney Stabler,

1:01especially that near-kiss moment they shot multiple ways. She and Chris push for the full kiss, feeling it earned after all these years, but Dick Wolf went with the tease in editing. Her take? No matter what, the boss calls the shots. That raw human complexity keeps viewers hooked after 27 years of 20 plus episodes a season. Child's play, compared to cable short runs. Now she's directing SPU 600th episode next year. Episode 6 of the new season. Wild milestones, she still can't process. A Maloney's future post has spinoff cancel, doors open, it's not done done over between them. The doc reclaims her mom's image as a complex artist, beyond that famous Sophia Lauren side-eye photo. Through it all, Mariska feels her mom would be with pride, finally seen as the talent she was. They even made a movie together in spirit, healing old wounds across generations. I'm Cory with the story,

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